nly the worde, but verrely the thing. 343
[Sidenote 1: MS. But.]

[50]

Redith, my child, redith his warkys all,
Refuseth non, they ben expedient;
Sentence or langage, or both, fynde ye shall 346
Full delectable, for that fader ment
Of all his purpos and his hole entent
Howe to plese in euery audience,
And in our_e_ tou_n_g was well of eloquence. 350

[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._]

[Sidenote: ff C lxiij back.]

P) O fader & fownder of ornate eloquence
_tha_t Illumyned hast all[e] owre bretayne!
To sone we loste thy lavreat science, 332
O lusty lyqvovre of _tha_t fulsu_m_ fontayn_e_!
O cursed det[=h]! why hast _tho_u _tha_t poete slayn_e_,
I mene fader chavucer, mayst_er_ galfryde?
Alas _th_e while _tha_t ever he from vs dyed! 336

P) Redyt[=h] his werkes full[e] of plesavnce,
Clere in sentence, I_n_ langage excellente:
Bryefly to wryte, such was his suffysavnce,
What-ever_e_ to say he toke i_n_ his entente, 340
his langage was so fayer_e_ & p_er_tynente,
yt semet[=h] vnto manys heryng
Not only the worde, but veryly _th_e thyng. 343

P) Redyth, my child, redyth his bookes all[e],
Refusith Non, they ben expedyente;
sentence or langage, bot[=h] fynd ye shall[e];
ffull[e] delectable that good fader mente,
for all[e] his purpose & his hole entente 348
[was] how to please in eu_er_y audyence,
& In owr_e_ tonge was well[e] of Eloquence.

CAXTON'S TEXT.

[48]

[Sidenote: Leaf 163, back.]

O fader and founder of ornate eloquence
[Sidenote: and the Father and Founder of Eloquence,]
That enlumened hast alle our bretayne
To soone we loste / thy laureate scyence 332
O lusty lyquour / of that fulsom fontayne
O cursid deth / why hast thou [th]^t poete slayne
I mene fader chaucer / maister galfryde
[Sidenote: mayster Galfryde Chawcer,]
Alas the whyle / that euer he from vs dyde 336

[49]

[Sidenote: Leaf 9 a.]

Redith his werkis / ful of plesaunce
[Sidenote: whose works are full of pleasaunce,]
Clere in sentence / in langage excellent
Briefly to wryte / suche was his suffysa[=n]ce 339
What euer to saye / he toke in his entente
His langage was so fayr and pertynente
It semeth vnto mannys heeryng_e_
Not only the worde